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Space offers virtually unlimited free-fall in gravity. Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) enables ineffable low kinetic energies corresponding to pico- or even femtokelvins. The combination of both features makes atom interferometers with unprecedented sensitivity for inertial forces possible and opens a new era for quantum gas experiments. On January 23, 2017, we created Bose-Einstein condensates in space on the sounding rocket mission MAIUS-1 and conducted 110 experiments central to matter-wave interferometry. In particular, we have explored laser cooling and trapping in the presence of large accelerations as experienced during launch, and have studied the evolution, manipulation and interferometry employing Bragg scattering of BECs during the six-minute space flight. In this letter, we focus on the phase transition and the collective dynamics of BECs, whose impact is magnified by the extended free-fall time. Our experiments demonstrate a high reproducibility of the manipulation of BECs on the atom chip reflecting the exquisite control features and the robustness of our experiment. These properties are crucial to novel protocols for creating quantum matter with designed collective excitations at the lowest kinetic energy scales close to femtokelvins., 6 pages, 4 figures

Fiber-coupled optical benches are an integral part of many laser systems. The base of such an optical bench is usually a slab of solid material, onto which optical components are fixed. In many environments, the ability to retain high fiber coupling efficiency under mechanical loads is essential. In this article, we study the fiber-to-fiber coupling efficiency under the application of static mechanical loads experimentally and theoretically: We constructed a simple three-point bending setup to interferometrically measure the deformation of an optical bench under load. Using the same setup, we further recorded the resulting coupling efficiency variations. The examined optical benches are based on Zerodur optical benches used in sounding rockets and International Space Station missions. We also developed an analytical model that incorporates an Euler–Bernoulli beam deformation model and a simple model for calculating the coupling efficiency, to which the experimentally obtained data are compared. Furthermore, we use a finite element method simulation to compare to the recorded deformation data. Recorded data, the analytical model, and simulations show good agreement. We also show how the presented analytical model can easily be expanded to contain more complex beam paths and, thus, be used to estimate coupling losses for experimentally relevant optical benches under load.

A number of cold atom experiments are restrained by the impeding effects of gravity. While efforts have been made to overcome these limitations in a gravitational environment, another approach is placing the experiment in a microgravity environment, as can be found aboard sounding rockets, satellites or a space station. The cornerstone of such experiments is a robust laser system. The adverse conditions during a rocket launch impose stringent requirements on thermal stability and resilience against mechanical stress on this part of the experimental setup. Furthermore, the very limited space found on any of the aforementioned microgravity platforms necessitates maximal miniaturization. In order to meet these requirements, we have developed a technology based on miniaturized free-space optics, mounted onto optical benches made from Zerodur, a glass-ceramic which exhibits a vanishing first order coefficient of thermal expansion. The technology has already been successfully implemented in the sounding rocket missions FOKUS, KALEXUS and MAIUS−1. It will also be used in the upcoming MAIUS−2/3 sounding rocket missions. To meet the even more restrictive size and mass constraints of the NASA-DLR Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) mission, a quantum optics multi-user facility aboard the International Space Station, we are currently investigating a new and improved design concept. While being motivated by these missions, our technology can be expanded to any other experimental field where a small and robust laser system is needed.

We present a broadband cw Cr

We present a broadband cw Cr4+:forsterite laser operating at room temperature with a lasing threshold of 0.8 W that is tunable in the spectral range from 7246 to 8361 cm-1 (1196-1380 nm). This laser is applied for highly sensitive measurements of gaseous absorption inside the cavity. The maximum sensitivity demonstrated in the experiment corresponds to an effective absorption path length of Leff = 2500 km. The spectral bandwidth of laser emission varies from 3 to 150 cm-1 depending on the laser pulse duration, enabling broadband multi-component absorption measurements. We demonstrate sensitive detection of various species (with estimated detection limits), such as H2O (25 ppt), O2 (3 ppm), CO2 (150 ppb), CH4 (2 ppb), HCl (6 ppb) and HF (2 ppt) using lab-scale absorption lengths of about one meter.

Numerous quantum technologies make use of a microgravity environment e.g. in space. Operating in this extreme environment makes high demands on the experiment and especially the laser system regarding miniaturization and power consumption as well as mechanical and thermal stability. In our systems, optical modules consisting of ZERODUR® based optical benches with free-space optics are combined with fiber components. Suitability of the technology has been demonstrated in the successful sounding rocket missions FOKUS, KALEXUS and MAIUS-1. Here, we report on our toolkit for stable optical benches including mounts, fixed and adjustable mirrors as well as polarization maintaining fiber collimators and couplers made from ZERODUR®. As an example, we present the optical modules for the scientific rocket payload of MAIUS-2, a quantum gas experiment performing dual-species atom interferometry with Bose-Einstein condensates. The modules are used on the one hand to stabilize the laser frequencies and on the other hand to distribute, overlap and switch the laser beams. This includes the overlap and joint fiber coupling of beams at 767 nm and 780 nm in the same polarization state to cool and manipulate atoms of both species simultaneously. Future projects include the development of a platform for experiments with cold atoms onboard the International Space Station. The laser system again involves ZERODUR® based optical benches in conjunction with fiber optical components. The experiment is planned as multi-user facility and currently in the design phase. The next step is to build the training, test and flight hardware.

We present an optical element for the separation of superimposed beams that only differ in angle. The beams are angularly resolved and separated by total internal reflection at an air gap between two prisms. As a showcase application, we demonstrate the separation of superimposed beams of different diffraction orders directly behind acousto-optic modulators for an operating wavelength of 800 nm. The wavelength as well as the component size can easily be adapted to meet the requirements of a wide variety of applications. The presented optical element allows one to reduce the lengths of beam paths and thus to decrease laser system size and complexity.

We apply intracavity absorption spectroscopy for measurements of the absorption spectrum of formaldehyde, CH2O, from 6230 to 6420 cm(-1), of which only a small fraction (6351-6362 cm(-1)) has been recorded elsewhere. The measurements are performed in the cavity of a broadband Er3+-doped fiber laser, with a sensitivity corresponding to the effective absorption path length of 45 m and a spectral resolution of 0.1 cm(-1). The noise-equivalent detection limit of CH2O achieved with the strongest absorption line at 6252.64 cm(-1) is estimated to be 5 ppm. High tolerance to broadband losses and the accessible time resolution of 50 mu s make it possible to apply this detection system for time-resolved monitoring of CH2O together with other molecules in harsh combustion environments, e.g., in combustion engines.

We have developed, assembled, and flight-proven a stable, compact, and autonomous extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) system designed for atomic physics experiments in space. To that end, two micro-integrated ECDLs at 766.7 nm were frequency stabilized during a sounding rocket flight by means of frequency modulation spectroscopy (FMS) of 39^K and offset locking techniques based on the beat note of the two ECDLs. The frequency stabilization as well as additional hard- and software to test hot redundancy mechanisms were implemented as part of a state-machine, which controlled the experiment completely autonomously throughout the entire flight mission., 10 pages, 7 figures

We present a diode laser system optimized for laser cooling and atom interferometry with ultra-cold rubidium atoms aboard sounding rockets as an important milestone towards space-borne quantum sensors. Design, assembly and qualification of the system, combing micro-integrated distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser modules and free space optical bench technology is presented in the context of the MAIUS (Matter-wave Interferometry in Microgravity) mission. This laser system, with a volume of 21 liters and total mass of 27 kg, passed all qualification tests for operation on sounding rockets and is currently used in the integrated MAIUS flight system producing Bose-Einstein condensates and performing atom interferometry based on Bragg diffraction. The MAIUS payload is being prepared for launch in fall 2016. We further report on a reference laser system, comprising a rubidium stabilized DFB laser, which was operated successfully on the TEXUS 51 mission in April 2015. The system demonstrated a high level of technological maturity by remaining frequency stabilized throughout the mission including the rocket's boost phase.

In this paper, we demonstrate the first application of intracavity absorption spectroscopy (ICAS) for monitoring species concentration, total pressure, and temperature in shock-tube experiments. ICAS with a broadband Er3+-doped fiber laser is applied to time-resolved measurements of absorption spectra of shock-heated C2H2. The measurements are performed in a spectral range between 6512 and 6542 cm−1, including many absorption lines of C2H2, with a time resolution of 100 µs and an effective absorption path length of 15 m. Up to 18-times increase of the total pressure and a temperature rise of up to 1200 K have been monitored. Due to the ability of simultaneously recording many absorption lines in a broad spectral range, the presented technique can also be applied to multi-component analysis of transient single-shot processes in reactive gas mixtures in shock tubes, pulse detonation engines, or explosions.

Tracks of modified material were written with femtosecond-laser pulses in neodymium-doped YAG crystals. Due to a stress-induced change of the refractive index, waveguiding beside the tracks and between two adjacent tracks with a distance of approximately 25 μm was observed. Loss measurements resulted in guiding losses of about 1.6 dB/cm for the double track waveguide. Spectroscopic investigations of the 4F3/2→4F11/2 transmission lines of the neodymium ions, which are close to the modified region, revealed a small stress-induced red shift of the lines. Laser oscillation of single-track waveguides and double-track waveguides was demonstrated with Ti:Sapphire laser pumping at a wavelength of 808 nm. Best laser performance with about 1.3 W output power at 2.25 W launched pump power was achieved using a double-track waveguide with a separation of 27 μm at an outcoupling transmission of 95%.

Atom interferometers have a multitude of proposed applications in space including precise measurements of the Earth's gravitational field, in navigation & ranging, and in fundamental physics such as tests of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) and gravitational wave detection. While atom interferometers are realized routinely in ground-based laboratories, current efforts aim at the development of a space compatible design optimized with respect to dimensions, weight, power consumption, mechanical robustness and radiation hardness. In this paper, we present a design of a high-sensitivity differential dual species $^{85}$Rb/$^{87}$Rb atom interferometer for space, including physics package, laser system, electronics and software. The physics package comprises the atom source consisting of dispensers and a 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT), the science chamber with a 3D-MOT, a magnetic trap based on an atom chip and an optical dipole trap (ODT) used for Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) creation and interferometry, the detection unit, the vacuum system for $10^{-11}$ mbar ultra-high vacuum generation, and the high-suppression factor magnetic shielding as well as the thermal control system. The laser system is based on a hybrid approach using fiber-based telecom components and high-power laser diode technology and includes all laser sources for 2D-MOT, 3D-MOT, ODT, interferometry and detection. Manipulation and switching of the laser beams is carried out on an optical bench using Zerodur bonding technology. The instrument consists of 9 units with an overall mass of 221 kg, an average power consumption of 608 W (819 W peak), and a volume of 470 liters which would well fit on a satellite to be launched with a Soyuz rocket, as system studies have shown., 30 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in Experimental Astronomy

Precision time references in space are of major importance to satellite-based fundamental science, global satellite navigation, earth observation, and satellite formation flying. Here we report on the operation of a compact, rugged, and automated optical frequency comb setup on a sounding rocket in space under microgravity. The experiment compared two clocks, one based on the optical D2 transition in Rb, and another on hyperfine splitting in Cs. This represents the first frequency comb based optical clock operation in space, which is an important milestone for future satellite-based precision metrology. Based on the approach demonstrated here, future space-based precision metrology can be improved by orders of magnitude when referencing to state-of-the-art optical clock transitions.

Atom interferometers covering macroscopic domains of space-time are a spectacular manifestation of the wave nature of matter. Due to their unique coherence properties, Bose-Einstein condensates are ideal sources for an atom interferometer in extended free fall. In this paper we report on the realization of an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer operated with a Bose-Einstein condensate in microgravity. The resulting interference pattern is similar to the one in the far-field of a double-slit and shows a linear scaling with the time the wave packets expand. We employ delta-kick cooling in order to enhance the signal and extend our atom interferometer. Our experiments demonstrate the high potential of interferometers operated with quantum gases for probing the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and general relativity., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; 8 pages of supporting material

The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The STE-QUEST satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the Universality of Free Fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose-Einstein condensates of Rb85 and Rb87. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the E\"otv\"os parameter of at least 2x10E-15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources., Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures

We study and realize asymmetric fiber-based cavities with optimized mode match to achieve high reflectivity on resonance. This is especially important for mutually coupling two physical systems via light fields, e.g., in quantum hybrid systems. Our detailed theoretical and experimental analysis reveals that on resonance, the interference effect between the directly reflected non-modematched light and the light leaking back out of the cavity can lead to large unexpected losses due to the mode filtering of the incoupling fiber. Strong restrictions for the cavity design result out of this effect and we show that planar-concave cavities are clearly best suited. We validate our analytical model using numerical calculations and demonstrate an experimental realization of an asymmetric fiber Fabry-Pérot cavity with optimized parameters.

Solid state lasers in the visible spectral region have many possible applications like projection technology and spectroscopy [1,2]. In these fields the generation of green light is still a challenge. Recent projection devices generate green laser light by frequency doubling of near-infrared solid state laser radiation. A compact, simple, and efficient laser based projection device is not yet developed. The trivalent Pr3+ ion in the host material LiYF 4 (YLF) has several transitions at wavelengths in the visible spectral range, for example at 523 nm (green) or at 640 nm (red). Pr:YLF can be efficiently pumped by GaInN laser diodes at 444 nm (blue) [3].

We present a new method to control the power of individual spectral components of a multicolor laser by mirrors with variable air gaps and by a composite resonator configuration. We demonstrate a Pr/Yb-ZBLAN fiber laser with arbitrary spectral composition of three simultaneously emitted components at 492 nm, 520 nm, and 635 nm. With 100 mW pump power at 850 nm launched into the fiber, the total laser output exceeds 10 mW.

Operating ultracold quantum gas experiments outside of a laboratory environment has so far been a challenging goal, largely due to the lack of sufficiently stable optical systems. In order to increase the thermal stability of free-space laser systems, the application of nonstandard materials such as glass ceramics is required. Here, we report on Zerodur-based optical systems which include single-mode fiber couplers consisting of multiple components jointed by light-curing adhesives. The thermal stability is thoroughly investigated, revealing excellent fiber-coupling efficiencies between 0.85 and 0.92 in the temperature range from 17°C to 36°C. In conjunction with successfully performed vibration tests, these findings qualify our highly compact systems for atom interferometry experiments aboard a sounding rocket as well as various other quantum information and sensing applications.

A frequency comb, DFB diode laser and rubidium spectroscopy cell have been developed and commissioned on a sounding rocket mission to demonstrate their technological maturity. The first laser spectroscopy experiment on an optical transition in space is performed.

The Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique has several advantages such as the possibility to produce thin films of any compound with a stoichiometric material transfer from the target to the substrate. Also the high energy of the ablated material is a benefit, leading to crystalline film growth due to the high mobility of the atoms on the substrate surface. In combination with a recently demonstrated efficient Nd:YAG waveguide laser, the PLD technique is suitable for producing passively Q-switched waveguide lasers by depositing thin films of highly doped Cr4+:YAG on one endface of the waveguide [1–2].

A breakthrough in cold atom quantum technology is hindered by a bottleneck in the supporting technologies. We discuss a cold atom technology platform developed within the European iSense project, aiming at a gravimeter as demonstrator.

Optical frequency comb-based high resolution laser spectroscopy has been demonstrated in space under micro-gravity on two sounding rocket based experiments. The comb has been used to simultaneously measure two different atomic transitions.